College of the Desert (0-2-1) hosted just its second home game on the new soccer field and came away with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Bakersfield Renegades (0-2-1) on Friday.
The match also marked the first meeting in program history between the Roadrunners and Bakersfield.
The new soccer field was constructed with Measure CC funds after voters in the Desert Community College District approved the bond measure in 2016.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alejandra Carrillo (La Quinta HS) has played every minute of every game in net for the Roadrunners this season, making six saves on eight shots Friday.
Bakersfield opened the scoring in the 33rd minute to take a 1-0 lead that held into halftime.
The second half belonged to the Roadrunners. Sophomore forward Willow Jones (Yucca Valley HS) scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute, her first goal of the season, on an assist from freshman midfielder Nevaeh Cruz (Palm Desert HS), tying the game at 1-1. It was Jones' first appearance of the season after missing the first two games, and Cruz's first assist of the year.
Bakersfield answered in the 61st minute to reclaim a 2-1 lead. But in the 73rd minute, Cruz converted a penalty kick, her first goal of the season, to knot the score at 2-2, where it would stay.
The Roadrunners hit the road next on September 8 to face the Imperial Valley Desert Warriors. The two programs first met in 1997, back when Imperial Valley competed as the Arabs, and the Roadrunners hold a 31-2-1 all-time record against Imperial Valley (13-1-1 on the road).
Desert returns home on September 18 to host the Long Beach City Vikings for the first time in Palm Desert. The Roadrunners are 0-2 all-time against Long Beach City since the series began in 2024.
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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.
Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.
